Monday, December 18, 2017

Crafting away from home!


Getting away has a way of refreshing our perspective, opening our schedule and expanding our minds sometimes doesn't it?! One of my favorite times is the extra space to think and process on long drives - brings such a needed refresh in thinking and perspective.

Since we are usually gone for a month at a time when we come to Colorado, my schedule does breathe lighter and there is usually room for some creativity. I learned early on to bring a box of goodies with me while traveling so that I would feel freedom to enjoy this part of myself and one of my favorite parts of holidays!

This little suitcase was my great-grandmas and I have loved having it to take "fluffing" goodies on trips - it has been on many adventures with me in the last ten years! Here was my first cozy Christmas kit and below is what I brought this year!


I didn't have anything specific in mind when packing I just kind of see what I have and what fits! Having this little suitcase is a perfect way to limit myself to only what will fit :)

Some years I have brought special Christmas items or activities to enjoy away from home but that does get to be tricky with space and managing! So I didn't even bring our Advent Wreath this year but still wanted to make sure we were celebrating this part of the season.

Enter: a quick homemade diy Advent Wreath!


The little round wooden plate is my Mom's but everything else was from my crafty suitcase. Little vintage jell-o tins {from thrift stores} make fun candleholders and the boxwood garland is from the Target Dollar spot - I found it early November.

It was quick and easy to take the Advent theme for each week and stamp it on a little bit of fabric and clip on with cute clothespins. I love having ingredients available and then being able to use them in whatever way strikes my fancy.

I think we all know how much I love garlands and just that morning I read Isaiah 61:

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."


...a garland instead of ashes...

See!? Garlands are positive, the opposite of sorrow and mourning, they are happy and cheerful, they are a symbol of blessing from God.

My garland was made from little cake pop sticks {Hobby Lobby}, fabric and stamps and attached with washi tape to bakers twine. I needed a way to make the garland stay upright so my Mom suggested Life-Savers and I hot glued my posts into the centers - perfect!


Across the garland is really the whole purpose of our Advent celebrations: glorify. Yes, to glorify God and what He has done, is doing and will do in our lives. This is my word for 2018 - and I'll be sharing more about that after the first of the year.

Here is a little more photo inspiration:












1 comment:

*carrie* said...

You are the queen of resourceful and creative beauty and meaningful crafts!